Portable stand structure

ABSTRACT

A portable stand has a main support member to receive and mount a parcel, and legs pivotally and translatably mounted therewith. The legs are adapted to extend to support the portable stand in an upright position when the stand is placed on a supporting surface and to retract along the main support member when the stand is raised.

nited States Patent 1 91 Leis 1 PORTABLE STAND STRUCTURE [76] Inventor: Daniel Leis, Box 237, Garden Plain,

Kans. 67050 [22] Filed: June 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 155,143

[111 3,747,882 [451 July 24,1973

2,590,154 3/1952 Burns ISO/1.5 B X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,515,494 1/1968 France 248/169 107,030 4/1938 Australia... 248/96 656,978 1/1963 Canada 248/96 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Rodney 1-1. Bonck Attorney-John H. Widdowson [57] ABSTRACT A portable stand has a main support member to receive and mount a parcel, and legs pivotally and translatably mounted therewith. The legs are adapted to extend to support the portable'stand in an upright position when the stand is placed on a supporting surface and to retract along the main support member when the stand is raised.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PORTABLE STAND STRUCTURE There are numerous types of self-standing devices known in the prior art adapted to support things in an upright position. Basically self-standing devices are constructed somewhat alike with legs which extend from the body of the device as the device is set down on a supporting surface. Some of the self-standing devices have a gear operated mechanism to extend three or more legs as a probe touches the supporting surface while others use linkage systems for the same function. These leg extension devices characteristically have a number of precisely formed parts and are subject to much wear and subsequent failure. The heretofore selfstanding devices have been integrally constructed with whatever they are to support; for instance, in golf bags, umbrella supports, folding chairs, etc.

In one preferred specific embodiment of this invention, a portable stand includes a main support member securable to a parcel and having one fixed base member and two extendable and retractable support legs mounted on the bottom portion thereof. The main support memberincludes an elongated conduit member with flanges extending transversely from it which are fitted with belts that are used to secure a parcel to the portable stand. The fixed base member is secured to the main support member and functions to support the stand as a leg and to support a parcel. The pair of legs are preferably connected to the main support member by a sliding linkage joined at a movable base member so the legs translate and rotate from a retracted position adjacent the main support memberto an extended position radially projecting from the base of the main support member. A parcel can be secured to the portable stand and the stand and parcel carried using the stand as a handle to carry the parcel or using an existing handle on the parcel and carrying the portable stand. The legs of the portable stand retract to be generally aligned with the main support member when the stand is raised and extend when the stand is set down on the base. When the portable stand is in the sitting position, it supports the parcel in a nearly upright .position by resting on the base member, the extended legs and the movable base member.

One object of this invention is to provide a portable stand overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Still, one other object of this invention is to provide a portable stand structure attachable to a parcel so the parcel can be supported in an upright position by the stand.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a portable stand having a main support member attachable to a parcel with a base and fixed leg and having a pair of extendable and retractable legs adapted to extend automatically when the stand and attached parcel are placed on a supporting surface.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a portable stand having a pair of extendable and retractable legs used in supporting the portable stand and postionable in a fixed and stored retracted position.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from above of the portable stand in the upright self-standing position with a golf bag secured thereto;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the portable stand and golf bag with the legs shown in a retracted position in solid lines and with the legs shown prespectively in the extended position and in dashed lines;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of the lower portion of the portable stand with the legs in the retracted position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged leg side elevation view of the lower portion of the portable stand as shown in FIG. 3 with the legs in the retracted position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view of the lower portion of the portable stand with the legs shown in an intermediate or partially extended position;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the portable stand in the upright position with the legs in the extended position and showing the golf bag and attaching belt in dashed lines; and

FIG. 7 is a leg side elevation view of the lower portion of the portable stand with the legs shown in the retracted and stored position.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the portable stand structure of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular of FIG. 1, the portable stand structure of this invention, indicated generally at 10, is shown in self-standing upright position with a golf bag 12 secured thereto. The portable stand structure 10 includes a main support assembly l4 witha base 16 and a pair of legs 18 mounted on its lower portion by a linkage assembly 22 and having parcel attaching assemblies 20 on its top and bottom.

The main support assembly 14 is a straight elongated conduit member 24 with the base 16 and an attaching assembly 20 attached to its lower end and another attaching assembly on its upper end adapted to hold a parcel on one side of the conduit. The base 16 has a flat plate 26 with a downwardly curved outer edge 28 and is attached to the conduit 24 by a collar 30. The base 16 extends a short distance perpendicularly outward from the conduit 24 to extend under the parcel, as it can be seen in FIG. 2, where it extends under the golf bag 12. The base fonns one leg of the support for the portable stand 10.

The attaching assemblies 20 are compris of a flange 32 attached to and extending from the conduit 24 and a belt 34. The flange 32 is generally rectangular in shape with slots 36 in the outer ends. The flange 32 on the lower end of the main support member 14 is integral with the collar 30 and is positioned perpendicular to the base plate 26. The other attaching assembly'20 on the upper end of the main support member 14 has a flange 32 integrally formed with a collar 38 around and secured to the conduit member 24. The belt 34 is looped through the flange slots 36, around the parcel and secured to hold the parcel in place.

The belt 34 shown in the drawings is a one-piece, nobuckle type belt now in popular use on golf carts and the like; the belt 34 adhere to itself along the inner side of the flange 32. However, it is to be understood that any suitable type belt or strap can be used with this invention to hold a parcel in place against the flanges 32.

Also, the portable stand of this invention is shown with two attaching assemblies 20', however, it is to be understood that more than two of them can be provided in order to secure various parcels. Practice has shown that two attaching assemblies 20 are sufficient to hold the golf bag 12 in place on the portablestand 10.

The legs 18 of the portable stand 10 are connected to the main support member 14 by a linkage assembly 22. The linkage assembly 22 includes a pair of legs 18 pivotally attached to a wedge member 40 translatably mounted with the conduit member 24, and connecting rods 42 connecting each leg 18 to a movable collar member 44 mounted on the conduit member 24. The wedge member 40 is secured to a guide rod 46 which extends into the conduit 24 a short distance. The legs 18 are pivotally mounted to the wedge so as to be equally spaced relative to one another and the base plate 26 as can be seen in FIG. 6. The wedge 40 has a generally triangular planform shape and a crosssectional wedge shape as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. When the portable stand is in the sitting position the wedge 40 is on the supporting surface along with the base 16 and the legs 18. The movable collar 44 is sized to slide easily over the conduit 24, and it is provided with a set screw 48 to hold it in a fixed position on the conduit 24. The movable collar 44 is provided with ears to pivotally attach the connecting rods 42. Each of the legs 18 is attached to a connecting rod in its center portion. The legs 18 are preferably channel shaped as shown in the drawings; however, it is to be noted that other shapes of legs could be used; however, practice has shown the channel shape to be easily attachable to the connecting rods and provides a flat supporting surface on the bottom side thereof.

The linkage apparatus 22 moves the legs 18 from the retracted position to the extended position. FIGS. 1 and 6 show the portable stand with the legs 18 in the fully extended position. FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 7 show the portable stand 10 with the legs in the fully retracted position. When the legs 18 are fully extended, the movable collar 44 is adjacent to the top side of the other collar 30, the wedge member 40 is adjacent to the bottom of the other collar 30 and rests on the supporting surface with the legs 18 positioned radially from the wedge member 40 as can be seen in FIG. 2. When in the extended position, the set screw 48 of the movable collar 44 can be tightened thereby fixing the movable collar 44 which holds the legs 18 in the extended position. When the legs 18 are in the normally retracted position, they are substantially parallel to the conduit member 24 and depending from the movable collar 44 by the connecting rods 42 with the wedge 40 below the collar 30 and positioned by the attached guide rod 46 as can be seen in FIG. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. When in the retracted position, the legs can be easily put in the storage position by raising the movable collar 44, thereby lifting the legs 18, wedge 40 and guide rod 46 so the wedge 40 is in contact with the bottom of the collar 30 and conduit member 24 as shown in FIG. 7. In order to hold the legs 18 in the storage position, the set screw 48 can be tightened securing the movable collar 44 to the conduit 24.

An advantage of the extendable and retractable legs is that when the legs 18 are in the retracted position and depending from the movable collar 44 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the portable stand 10 can be set down on the ,wedge 40 forcing it upward and moving the legs outward to the extended position. As shown in the intermediate position of FIG. 5 the legs swing upward and outward in moving from the retracted position to the extended position. As the legs 18 are moved to the extended position, the wedge 40, base 16 and legs simultaneously contact the supporting surface and are in position to support the stand 10 and any attached parcel in an upright position. The relative position of the base 16, wedge 40 and legs 18 in the extended or sitting position can be seen in FIGS. 2. When in the extended or sitting position, practice has shown the equal spacing of the legs 18 relative to the base 16 as shown in FIG. 6 provides resistance to tipping. When the portable stand is placed on a supporting surface the outer portions of the legs 18, the wedge member 40 and the downward turned edge 28 of the base are in contact with the supporting surface. Once the portable stand is lifted from the supporting surface, the legs 18 are moved to the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 4, by their weight and the weight of the rod 46 and wedge 40. In moving from the extended position to the retracted position the legs 18 move inward and downward. The portable stand 10 and parcel can be carried with the legs 18 in this retracted position so it can be set down at any time in the upright position. In practice this advantage of portability and self-standing has been found to be extremely advantageous when the parcel is a golf bag, as is shown in the drawings, because they are normally carried a short distance, set down, left for a short time, then picked up and carried again. Where a golf bag 12 is shown as the parcel attached to the portable stand, it is to be understood that the stand can be attached to and used with any parcel where self-standing is desired.

The retracted position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the legs 18 is to be noted as being significantly different from the storage position shown in FIG. 7. The retracted position has the legs 18 and wedge 40 depend from the movable collar 44 by the connecting rods 42. From the retracted position the legs 18 are moved outward and upward on upward movement of the wedge 40. In the storage position the legs 18 and wedge 40 are in the same relative position as the retracted position, but they are displaced toward the opposite end of the conduit 24 so the wedge 40 is against the end of the conduit. In this retracted position the legs 18 and wedge 40 cannot be moved once the set screw 48 in the movable collar 44 is tightened securing the movable collar 44 in place. The storage position of the legs is preferably used when the portable stand 10 is stored for a time when its self-standing capability is not needed.

In the manufacture of the portable stand structure 10 of this invention, it is obvious the structural members thereof can be easily constructed from standard structural forms. Also, it is obvious the structural members of the portable stand can be constructed of properly sized to be sufficiently strong in order to support a desired parcel.

In the use and operation of the portable stand structure 10 of this invention, it is seen that same provides a self-standing structure due to the legs 18 and the base 16 that can be secured to a parcel to. hold it in an upright position. The portable stand is economical to manufacture, simple to use, can be easily stored and can be attached to a variety of different parcels to hold same in an upright standing position.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of the applicant's portable stand structure, relatively inexpensive and simple means have been provided to support a parcel in an upright position. The portable stand structure is self-standing and operable under its own weight and will stand by itself on a supporting surface. The portable stand structure is economical to manufacture, simple to use, and can be easily secured to a parcel for use.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable stand comprising:

a. a main support member being an elongated conduit member having means to secure thereto an auxiliary parcel and having a base member extending from the lower end portion thereof,

b. at least two legs pivotally and translatably mounted to move parallel to said main support member by a linkage means mounted on said lower end portion of said main support member, said linkage means adapted to position said legs in a generally horizontal position in contact with a supporting surface when said stand is placed thereon and to position said legs along said elongated main support member and adjacent thereto,

c. said linkage means has a movable base member translatably mounted with said conduit member and pivotally mounted with the inner ends of said legs, a collar member slidably mounted with said conduit member, and a pair of connecting rod members pivotally mounted with said collar member and the center portions of said leg members,

d. said means to secure an auxiliary parcel has a belt member to encircle the parcel and means to attach said belt member to said conduit member, and

c. said leg members are positioned about said main member so as to be substantially equally spaced relatively to said base member.

2. The portable stand as described in claim 1,

5 wherein:

a. said movable base member is secured to an elongated base guide member slidably mounted in said conduit member to guide said movable base member iii longitudinal movement relative said conduit member,

b. said movable base member has a plurality of lugs extending therefrom to mount said inner ends of wherein:

a. said collar member has a set screw extending therethrough to secure said collar member to said conduit member in a fixed position, and

b. said means to attach said belt to said conduit member is a flanged collar secured to said conduit member extending transversely therefrom and having apertures in the end portions of same to pass said belt.

4. The portable stand as described in claim 3,

wherein:

a. said portable stand has a plurality of said flanged collars and said belts to attach a parcel to said conduit member.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CGRRECTION Patent NO. 24,

Daniel Leis Inventor(s) I It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 3, "p-re'spectively" should read v perspectively s1; line 50, "compris" should read comprised Column 5 line 29, after "thereto insert by the force of gravity when said stand is not in contact with a supporting surface Signed and sealed this 8th day of January 1974 QSEALl 1 Attest;

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYE R Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents FG RM F'O-IOSO (10-69) pscoMM-oc sows-P09 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRI N'I'ING OFFICE: 1959 O-IGG'Jll, 

1. A portable stand comprising: a. a main support member being an elongated conduit member having means to secure thereto an auxiliary parcel and having a base member extending from the lower end portion thereof, b. at least two legs pivotally and translatably mounted to move parallel to said main support member by a linkage means mounted on said lOwer end portion of said main support member, said linkage means adapted to position said legs in a generally horizontal position in contact with a supporting surface when said stand is placed thereon and to position said legs along said elongated main support member and adjacent thereto, c. said linkage means has a movable base member translatably mounted with said conduit member and pivotally mounted with the inner ends of said legs, a collar member slidably mounted with said conduit member, and a pair of connecting rod members pivotally mounted with said collar member and the center portions of said leg members, d. said means to secure an auxiliary parcel has a belt member to encircle the parcel and means to attach said belt member to said conduit member, and e. said leg members are positioned about said main member so as to be substantially equally spaced relatively to said base member.
 2. The portable stand as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said movable base member is secured to an elongated base guide member slidably mounted in said conduit member to guide said movable base member in longitudinal movement relative said conduit member, b. said movable base member has a plurality of lugs extending therefrom to mount said inner ends of said pair of legs for pivotal rotation to align with said base guide member, c. said collar member has a plurality of lugs extending therefrom to mount said connecting rod members for pivotal rotation and alignment with said conduit member, and d. said base member is a plate like support member secured to the lower end of said conduit member adapted to in conjunction with said legs support said stand in an upright position and to provide supporting surface for a parcel.
 3. The portable stand as described in claim 2, wherein: a. said collar member has a set screw extending therethrough to secure said collar member to said conduit member in a fixed position, and b. said means to attach said belt to said conduit member is a flanged collar secured to said conduit member extending transversely therefrom and having apertures in the end portions of same to pass said belt.
 4. The portable stand as described in claim 3, wherein: a. said portable stand has a plurality of said flanged collars and said belts to attach a parcel to said conduit member. 